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Then, hat in hand, he asked Sir Peter's indulgence for a private conference withlane, all thick with honeysuckle and candleberry shrub

"Carus," he said, "this is painfully irregular We are proceeding as passion dictates, not according to code Mr Butler has no choice but to accept, yet he is innocent of wrong intent, and has so infore?" I asked

"Yes, sir, most solemnly The lady was his uiltless of this affront to Sir Peter Coleville, and desires nothing better than to say so"

"That concerns us all," I said seriously "I a for Sir Peter, and I assu him Where is Mr Butler?"

"In the tap-room parlor"

"Say to him that Sir Peter will receive him in the coffee-room," I said quietly

Jessop impulsively laid his honest hand upon my shoulder as we turned toward the tavern

"Thank you, Carus," he said "I am happy that I have to deal with you instead of so for secret mischief where none lies hid"

"I hear that Lady Coleville is co at the door "May we not hope to avoid a distressing scene, Jessop?"

"We must," he answered, as I left him in the hallway and entered the coffee-room where Sir Peter waited, seated alone, his feet to the empty fireplace

"Where is Lady Coleville?" he asked, as I stepped up "She ht," I said, s, eyes ablaze

"Pray trustthe door to a servant's knock And to the wide-eyed fellow I said: "Go and say to Lady Coleville that Sir Peter is not to fight Say to her----"

I stopped short Lady Coleville appeared in an open doorway across the hall, her gaze passingher behind , a pale smile stamped on her lovely face

I ht to Sir Peter I followed, closing the door behind me

"Have I ever, ever in all these years, counseled you to dishonor?" she asked "Then listen now There is no honor in this thing you seek to do, but in it there lies a dreadful wrong to uest I can not choose but ask the only reparation he can give," said Sir Peter steadily